What happened
The flight encountered a critical mechanical issue in the form of an oil leak, which compelled the pilot to execute an emergency landing in waters off the Australian coast. Following this initial incident, the aircraft was subsequently recovered for towing operations. However, during the tow, the airplane sank. Despite the loss of the airframe, all eight members of the crew were rescued safely from the water.
Findings
The official investigation identified the oil leak as the primary factor necessitating the emergency landing. This mechanical failure was the direct cause of the incident sequence that led to the eventual sinking of the aircraft while under tow.